Half to heney j



' (No Model.)

0. E. DIEHL.

SHOE.

No. 387,948. Patented Aug. 14 1888.

WITNESSES: NV

s. Farms. Fmin-uthognphm. Washinglun. n, c.

CHARLES E. DIEHL, OF PITTSBURG,

PATENT @rrrcn.

PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE- HALF TO HENRY J. P. DIEHL, OF SAME PLACE.

SHOE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 387,948, dated August 14, 1888.

Application filed January 16, 1888. Serial No. 260,835. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, CHARLES E. DIEHL, a citizen of the United States, residing at Pittsburg, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented or discovered a certain new and useful Improvement in Shoes, of which improvement the following isa specification.

My invention relates to low-cut shoes and slippers, and its object is to maintain the shoe snugly yet easily in contact with the foot of the wearer, and thereby prevent the inconvenience and wear upon the stocking induced by looseness and Slipping of the shoe.

To this end my invention, generally stated, consists in an elastic strip or band connected at its ends to the inside of the rear portion of a shoe in position to exert its tension against the back of the ankle of the wearer.

The improvement claimed is hereinafter fully set forth.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a View in perspective of a slipper embodying my invention, and Fig. 2 a longitudinal central section through the same.

In the practice of my invention I insert in the rear portion of a low shoe or slipper, 1, above and adjacent to the counter or part which encircles the heelof the wearer, an elastic strip or band 2, which may he composed of rubber, textile webbing, or fabric rendered elastic by the insertion of cords or strips of rubber, or leather, cloth, 830., with elasticmalerial at its center or ends, said strip being secured at its ends to the upperor body portion of the shoe, preferably as shown, outside of the lining thereof, and being rearwardly inclined from its upper to its lower side in substantial conformity with the inward inclination or curvature of the back of the human ankle. The elastic band 2, which may be connected to the shoe by stitching, eyeleting, or in any other suitable manner, should be so cated as to be normally at a slight distance from the inside of the back of the shoe, such distance about corresponding with the slight allowance which is made to permit the shoe to be easily put on and removed, thereby inducing aslight tension of the hand against the back of the ankle. The pressure resultant therefrom, while too inconsiderable to be perceptible or inconvenient to the wearer, will maintain the shoe continuously in easy con tact with the foot, and thus prevent the slip ping and looseuess generally experienced in shoes of this description and the wear upon the stocking occasioned thereby.

1 am aware that elastic devices of different constructions have been heretofore applied to the rear portion of shoes to prevent the slip- 6o ping of the same from normal position upon the footas, for example, an elastic retainingstrap secured to the sole, a Ushaped clamp of wire secu red at its center to the inside of the rear end of the shoe, and an attaching-strap integral with the body of the shoe and shorter than the heel portion. I disclaim, therefore, broadly, a strap or band of elastic material combined with a shoe and serving to hold the same in position.

By connecting the elastic band to the inside of the upper portion of the shoe 1 am enabled to red ucc its length to a minimum, and correspondingly avoid the stretching to which a long band connected to the sole would be subject, and which would, in the course of wear, render the latter practically of no value. Its bearing is also exerted directly upon the back of the ankle in such manner as to more effectively prevent iheslipping of theshoe and wear of the stocking thanif extended above the top of the shoe, and being when in use wholly within the shoe, it is not visible and does not impair the style or appearance or" the latter.

I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patent A shoe or slipper provided with a strip of elastic material connected at its ends totheinside of the upper portion of the shoe, forming a band thatis normally in froutol' the counter, 0 and adapted to be expanded when in use to lie against said counter and to hold the shoe to the foot, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

CHARLES E. DIEHL. 

